Adjustable chair.



J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1909.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

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J. r. WALTON. ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLIQATION FILED MAY 19, 1909.

1,04 ,693, I Patented Dec. 10,1912.

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J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19,1909. 1,046,693. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

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JERROLD F. WALTON, 0F STUR-GIS, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1909.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Serial N 0. 497,074.

T '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERRoLD F. W'AL'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Sturgis, county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Chairs, of which the, following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable chairs.

The main objects of this invention are: first, to provide an improved chair in which the back can be easily adjusted by the occupant of the chair. Second, to provide an improved chair having an adjustable back, which is very simple in its mechanism and one in which the back is, at the same time, effectively supported.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in thefollowing specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail vertical section of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of a modified construction, in which the side pieces of the back are extended below the hinges to form the supporting arm for the back. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of a further modification, the modification residing in the location of the release rod for the rack. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on a line corresponding to line 55 of Figs. 1 and 4. r Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of a still further modification, the modification, residing in the arrangement of the rack and in providing means for returning the back to its upright position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the back supporting rack and of the spring. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail taken on a line corresponding to line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing, the chair frame preferably consists of the rear post 1 and the front post 2, which are extended to form the front and rear legs of the chair. On the upper ends of the posts are arms 3. The posts are connected by side frame pieces 4 and front and rear frame pieces 5 and 6, respectively. The frame is also preferably provided with a horizontally-arranged bottom piece 7 for supporting the adjusting mechanism, as clearly appears from the drawing. The back is preferably made up of side pieces or bars 8 connected by the cross pieces 9. The back is hinged at its lower end, the hinges illustrated being in the form of pivots, as 10. A conventional form of hinge or pivot is here illustrated as the hinges form no part of this present invention.

The mechanism for adjustably supporting the back preferably comprises the arm 11 which is preferably secured to the back by arranging the same vertically through the crosspieces 9 of the back. The arm 11 projects downwardly on the inside of the rear frame piece 6 so that its lower end projects below the frame piece 7, which is provided with a slot 12 for the arm so that free 1 movement of the arm is permitted, as when the back is moved backward and forward. This general arrangement of the parts is substantially that illustrated and described in my copending application filed March 29, 1909, Serial No. 486,470. The back is adjust-ably supported by the rack 13, the rear. toothed portion of which is curved downwardly. This rack is pivoted on a suitable hanger 14 arranged on the under side of the frame piece 7. The rear end of the rack is arranged through a slot in the lower end of the arm 11.

The rack release rod 15 is pivoted at one end on the inner side of one of the frame pieces 4 by means of a suitable hanger 16, and is connected to the forward end of the rack. On the other end of the rod is a finger piece 17 the upper end of which'preferably forward on the frame in convenient posi-' projects through the arm of the chair and is provided with a suitable button 18. This release rod is held yieldingly upward by the spring 19, which is arranged on the inside of the frame piece 4, one end being secured to the end piece and the other being arranged to engage the rod.

When the finger piece rod is pushed downwardly, the release rod is forced downwardly and consequently the rear end of the rack is swung upwardly to disengage it from the arm. As soon as the push button is released, the weight of the rack and the spring 19 causes it to engage with the arm.

The rack teeth are preferably formed asv illustrated, as they then engage with equal facility when the back is moved in either direction, and they may also be readily dis- 1 engaged. This arrangement of the parts provides a simple means by which the back is adjustably supported.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 3, the side pieces of the back are ex tended downwardly below the hinge pivots and connected by a cross rod 20 with which the rack engages, the structure otherwise being the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The rear frame piece or back rail 6 of the chair is here arranged in front of the back side pieces.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4, the rack is provided with an upwardly-projecting arm 21 at its rear end with which the inner end of'the release rod 22 is engaged, the rod being pivoted on the rear frame piece 6 of the frame at 23. This release rod 22, in this structure, is preferably bent to bring the finger piece rod 17 tion for manipulation. The release rod might be extended directly out to the side of the chain A return spring 34. is provided for the release rod. This spring isv preferably a coiled spring arranged in the inside of the side piece 4:, as illustrated. This spring also insures the engaging of th rac z. e r

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, a rack 24 is secured to thearm 11 to project rearwardly therefrom. The teeth of the rack are preferably on its edge,that is,

they project horizontally. For the sake of compactness, the rack is arranged through a hole 25 provided therefor in the rear frame piece 6.

The latch 26 is pivoted at 27 on the bracket 28, the bracket being arranged above the rack. The latch lever 29 is preferably extended forwardly, as in the structure illustrated in Fig. 4:, to bring the finger piece rod 17 into convenient position for manipulation. It might, as stated in regard to the release rod 22in the structure shown in Fig.

l, be extended directly out'of the side of the chair frame.

In the structure shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the back is held yieldingly in its forward position by the coiled spring 30, which is arranged on the spring supporting rod 31, the rod being secured at its rear end by means of the pivot 32 to the lower end of the arm 11, its forward end being slidably arranged through the support 33 on the frame piece 7. The spring is thus effectively supported in a manner to be very effective in use.

In Fig. 4, the back is held yieldingly forward by the springs 36. These are coiled springs, one end of the spring being secured to the back and the other to the frame piece 6.

My improved chair is very simple and economical in structure, and, at the same time, is neat and attractive in appearance.

The modifications I have illustrated will, no doubt, suggest others to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, as I 1. In a chair, the combination with a frame, of a hinged back; an arm projecting downwardly below the hinge of said back at the center thereof; a rack lever pivoted to said frame at the center thereof, the lower end of said arm being slotted to receive said rack; and a rack release rod pivotally connected at one endto said frame and to the forward end of said rack.

2. In a chair, the combination with a frame, of a hinged back; an arm projecting downwardly below the hinge of said back at the center thereof; a rack lever pivoted to said frame at the center thereof and arranged to engage said arm; a rack release rod connected to said frame and to said rack; a finger piece rod for said release rod;

and a spring for holding said release rod yieldingly upward.

3. In a chair, the combination with the frame having a horizontally-arranged botback arranged with its lower end within said frame and projecting below said bottom piece, said bottom piece being cut away v 115 tom piece, of a hinged back; an arm on said tom piece, said bottom piece being cut away my hand and seal in the presence of two to 'eceiwzf sald arfi; a rack pivoteflil on the Witnesses. un er si e 0 sai ottom iece Wit its rear end in engagement with s aid arm whereby JERROLD WALTON 5 said back is adjustably supported; and a re- Witnesses:

lease rod connected to said rack. A. C. KROFT,

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set J. G. WAILIOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

